Massage tables



Sept. 15, 1959 c. L. THOMAS MASSAGE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed March 3, 1958 INVENTOR (fie-52w? 1. 790/145 Sept. 15, 1959 c.- L.THOMAS MASSAGE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Filed March 3, 1958 UnitedStates Patent This invention relates to a massagetable, 'and moreparticularly to a massage table for use in body conditioning, figurecontrol and selective reducing of the human body. The principal objectof the invention is to provide a highly efiicient table constructionwhich willprovide a rhythmic tilting motion in-substantial synchronismwith the breathingcycle of a patient, and'which will combine with thistilting motion a rolling or kneadingaction againstjthe fiesh'of thepatient. i v f 7 Another object is to provide means in a tilting rollertable which will prevent the patient from rolling toward the lowerextremity of the table as it tilts downwardly, and to so construct theretaining means that it will act to retain the patient approximately inthe center position of the table throughout all the rhythmic tiltingmotions.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved massage table as it wouldappear ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the improved table, taken onthe line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the table in a substantially levelposition;

Fig. 3 is a similar longitudinal section showing the table in aninclined position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 44, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged cross-section taken on the line 55, Fig.2.

The improved table is mounted on a supporting base or platform 10arranged to rest upon the floor. Two spaced-apart, tilting-table sides11 are supported above the platform 10 and arranged to .tilt in spaced,vertical, longitudinal planes. The two table sidw 11 are maintained infixed, spaced-apart relation by means of cross plates 12 fixedly securedthereto and extending therebetween.

A plurality of freely rotatable rollers 13 are journalled in suitablebearings along the upper edges of the sides 11 and extend horizontallybetween the upper edges of the two sides 11 in uniformly spaced-apartrelation. The rollers may have any desired construction, preferably of aresilient nature, such as of sponge rubber, and are freely rotatable.

One extremity of the tilting table is supported from a cross shaft 14fixedly secured to and extending between the sides 11. The cross shaft14 is supported upon two spaced-apart swinging links 15 which extendupwardly from a hinge shaft 16 mounted in suitable bearings 37 on theplatform 10. The other extremity of the tilting table is supported fromangle bracket members 17, there being 2,904,036 Patented Sept. 15, 1959ice one angle bracket member secured to the inner face of each of thesides 11.

. Each of the angle bracket members 17 carries a crank bearing 18 inwhich a crank pin 19 is rotatably mounted. The crank pins 19 are carriedon cranks 20 mounted adjacent the opposite extremities of a crank shaft21. The crank shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 32 supported fromthe platform 10 upon supporting pedestals 22,-.and is driven through themedium of a conventional speed reducer 23 from an electric motor 24mounted on the platform 10.

It can be seen that as the cranks 20 rotate, the entire table will movesimultaneously longitudinally and vertically due to the arcuate movementof the crank pins 19 andto the swinging movement of the links 15, so asto -move the table back and forth longitudinally and alternately elevatethe table extremities.

[The-speed of the motor 24 and the ratio of reduction through the speedreducer 23 are such as to rhythmically -tilt th e table in substantialsynchronism with the normal tendency for the person to coast downwardly,first toward one extremity, thence toward the other extremity, due tothe freely rotating rollers 13. To prevent this longitudinal movement ofthe patient, an elongated, flexible retaining sheet 25 is positionedover and longitudinally of the series of rollers. The extremities of thesheet 25 are extended downwardly and inwardly about chosen rollersadjacent each extremity of the table. These downwardly and inwardlyextending extremities of the sheet 25 are connected together beneath therollers 13 at each side of the table by means of a connected-togetherpair of hooked tension wires 26, in each of which a tension spring 27 isincorporated to maintain the sheet 25 longitudinally taut.

At the point where the two wires 26, at each side of the table, areconnected together they are also connected to the upper extremity of asheet-actuating lever 28. The actuating levers 28 are mounted on ahorizontal lever shaft 29 mounted in bearings 33 on the platform 10.

A connecting link 30 extends from each of the crank pins 19 to a pivotalconnection 31 intermediate the length of the lever so that as the cranksrevolve, the upper extremities of the levers will oscillate back andforth in an arc of greater length than the diameter of the throw of thecranks 20. The oscillation of the levers will be imparted to the sheet25 to cause the latter to travel up the incline of the table from eachdescending extremity thereof.

It can be seen that as the cranks 20 rotate downwardly in a clockwisedirection from the position of Fig. 2 they will lower the left extremityof the table, as shown in Fig. 3, to create an incline to the left whichwould tend to cause the patient to gravitate toward the left extremity.However, as the cranks 20 move downwardly, they will also move towardthe left so as to swing the levers 28 to the left so as to cause thesheet to travel up the incline as the left extremity of the tabledescends. so as to counteract the tendency of the patient to coasttoward the left. The opposite is true as the cranks ascend from ahorizontal position to a vertical position. This movement causes thelevers to swing to the right to cause the sheet to travel to the left asthe right extremity of the table rises.

Attention is called to the fact that the table moves longitudinally aswell as vertically and that the direction of travel of the sheet is theexact opposite of the direction of movement of the table so the patientremains in a substantially stationary position while the tableoscillates longitudinally.

The operating mechanism is concealed by a side wall 34 surrounding theplatform 10. The table sides descend exteriorly of the side wall 34. Thebearings for the rollers 13 are concealed by means of top rails 35,padded to prevent injury to the patient and to improve the appearance ofthe completed table. The appearance is also enhan'ced by placingsuitably upholstered panels 36 upon elements.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied,within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A massage table comprising: a supporting base; swinging linkspivotally mounted on said base and extending upwardly in parallelrelation from one extremity thereof; a crank shaft rotatably supportedfrom said base adjacent the other extremity thereof; cranks mounted onsaid crank shaft; means for rotating said crank shaft; a table structureextending longitudinally over said base,

the exterior surfaces to conceal the various structural said-tablestructure being supported at its one extremity supporting rollersextending transversely of the top of said table in spaced-apartrelation; and an elongated flexible sheet extending longitudinally ofsaid table over said rollers and means operable from said crank shaftfor reciprocating said sheet longitudinally of said table in oppositionto the longitudinal movements of said table.

2. A massage table as described in claim 1 in which the means forreciprocating said sheet comprises an operating lever hingedly mountedfor longitudinal movement upon said base below said rollers; aconnecting link extending from one of said cranks to said operatinglever for reciprocating the latter, the extremities of said sheetextending downwardly through and adjacent the extremities of saidplurality of rollers thence inwardly to a connection with said operatinglever so that the reciprocal movements of the latter will becommunicated to said sheet.

3. A massage table as described in claim 2 in which two of saidoperating levers are employed each connected to'one of said cranks andhaving resilient means connecti'ng eachlever to both extremities of saidsheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

